Abstract:

Various embodiments provide a wizard integrated as part of an application
to assist a user in operating within the application. In one or more
embodiments, the wizard comprises an inline portion of the application's
user interface and is designed to enable a user to express a desired goal
and then present one or more choices that appear to satisfy the user's
desired goal. The choices are titled in a manner that obscures or
abstracts away more complex choices and concepts with which a user may
not be familiar. When the user selects a particular displayed choice, the
wizard can present further choices which are progressively narrowed to
focus on the user's desired goal, thus directing the user to a suitable
feature to accomplish his or her goal and providing just-in-time
conceptual information about the feature to enable the user to use that
feature.

Claims:

1. A system comprising:one or more computer-readable storage media;an
application embodied on the one or more computer-readable storage media;a
wizard embodied on the one or more computer-readable storage media,
wherein the wizard provides an inline portion of a user interface
associated with the application and is designed to enable a user to
express a goal and then present one or more choices that appear to
satisfy the user's goal, wherein at least some of the choices are
presented within a ribbon of the application's user interface.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the wizard is configured to, responsive
to a user selecting a choice, present one or more additional choices that
are in the context of the goal expressed by the user.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the wizard is configured to, responsive
to presenting one or more additional choices, present an information area
that includes information that pertains to the one or more additional
choices.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the inline portion does not comprise a
separate window.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the inline portion does not fly in from
a side of the user interface.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the wizard comprises a guided help mode
that is configured to provide information that pertains to a choice the
user has made, wherein the information comprises at least one
of:information that guides the user through steps that are to be
accomplished in order to take a particular action, orinformation that
automatically accomplishes one or more tasks that are relevant to the
choice that the user has made.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the guided help mode comprises a
floating window.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the guided help mode is configured to
perform manipulations via the user interface to illustrate to the user
how a particular operation can be performed.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the wizard comprises a search text box
in which the user can enter a term associated with the goal, and a
results area adjacent the search text box in which individual results
from a search can be displayed for the user.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the user interface comprises a work
area beneath the search text box and results area in which a user can
accomplish work tasks using the application.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the wizard is configured to provide
additional information regarding a choice responsive to a user hovering a
mouse over a presented choice.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said additional information comprises
a tool tip.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more choices comprise
multiple choices which are numerically ranked.

14. A computer-implemented method comprising:displaying an application
user interface, wherein the user interface has a ribbon and is defined
within a resizable, closeable window;receiving, within the resizable,
closeable window, text input by a user pertaining to a goal the user
wishes to accomplish using the application; anddisplaying, within the
resizable, closeable window, one or more choices that pertain to the
user's goal, wherein the act of displaying is performed by displaying the
one or more choices in the ribbon of the user interface.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising displaying additional text
that pertains to the one or more choices, wherein the additional text is
displayed inline with the application user interface.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the act of displaying additional text
is performed responsive to hovering a mouse over a particular choice.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the act of displaying additional text
is performed by displaying a tool tip.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the act of displaying additional text
is performed by displaying a guided help window.

19. One or more computer-readable storage media comprising
computer-readable instructions which, when executed, are configured to
provide an application user interface with an integrated, inline wizard
which allows a user to type in a search term associated with a goal they
would like to accomplish using the application and, responsively, have
displayed multiple different selectable choices that pertain to their
search term, wherein at least a portion of an inline wizard user
interface is displayed within the application user interface, and wherein
the inline wizard is configured to:present additional information
responsive to a mouse being hovered over a particular choice; andprovide
a guided help mode which guides a user through steps that are to be
accomplished in order to take a particular action.

20. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 19, wherein
the multiple different selectable choices are displayed entirely within a
ribbon of the application user interface.

Description:

BACKGROUND

[0001]Typically, software programs have many different features that a
user can use. In order to use a program's features, the user must be
aware that the feature exists in the program, know where it is located,
understand some concepts that are implicit in how the feature works and
be able to choose and distinguish between other similar-seeming features.
Complicating this is the fact that many users find the current learning
processes intrusive as they require the user to exit from their
workspace. These learning processes can include using a
program-affiliated help topic menu, navigating to a web-based help site,
and/or reading a tutorial or a book.

[0002]As an example, consider the following. Assume that a user of
PowerPoint software wishes to use a picture as a background of all of the
slides in a presentation on which the user is working. While a feature
exists to perform this function (namely, editing the Master Slide), there
may be a number of hurdles that prevent a user from accessing and using
this feature. Perhaps the user does not know that the Master Slide
features exists. Alternately or additionally, the user may not know where
to go in the user interface to invoke the feature. Further, the user may
lack an understanding of the concept of a Master Slide (e.g., a Master
Slide acts as a `parent` to slides that inherit from it, so that any
change made to the Master is automatically shown in all the slides of
which it is the Master). Without understanding this concept, a user will,
no doubt, have trouble using the feature. Further, there may be other
features that seem like likely candidates to accomplish the user's goal
(e.g. setting the background color, inserting a picture, choosing a
style, choosing a theme, and using a template), all of which can affect
how the background of a slide looks. Yet, knowing which feature to use
requires understanding the different underlying concepts.

SUMMARY

[0003]This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a
simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed
Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or
essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to
be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0004]Various embodiments provide a wizard integrated as part of an
application to assist the user in operating within the application. In
one or more embodiments, the wizard comprises an inline portion of the
application's user interface and is designed to enable a user to express
a desired goal and then present one or more choices that appear to
satisfy the user's desired goal. The choices are titled in a manner that
obscures or abstracts away more complex choices and concepts with which a
user may not be familiar. When the user selects a particular displayed
choice, the wizard can present further choices which are progressively
narrowed to focus on the user's desired goal, thus directing the user to
a suitable feature to accomplish his or her goal and providing
just-in-time conceptual information about the feature to enable the user
to use that feature.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005]The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to reference like
features.

[0006]FIG. 1 illustrates a system in accordance with one or more
embodiments.

[0007]FIG. 2 illustrates a user interface in accordance with one or more
embodiments.

[0008]FIG. 3 illustrates a user interface in accordance with one or more
embodiments.

[0009]FIG. 4 illustrates a user interface in accordance with one or more
embodiments.

[0010]FIG. 5 illustrates a user interface in accordance with one or more
embodiments.

[0011]FIG. 6 illustrates a user interface in accordance with one or more
embodiments.

[0012]FIG. 7 illustrates a user interface in accordance with one or more
embodiments.

[0013]FIG. 8 is a flow diagram that describes steps in a method in
accordance with one or more embodiments.

[0014]FIG. 9 illustrates an example system that can be utilized to
implement one or more embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015]Overview

[0016]Various embodiments provide a wizard integrated as part of an
application to assist the user in operating within the application. In
one or more embodiments, the wizard comprises an inline portion of the
application's user interface and is designed to enable a user to express
a desired goal and then present one or more choices that appear to
satisfy the user's desired goal. The choices are titled in a manner that
obscures or abstracts away more complex choices and concepts with which a
user may not be familiar. When the user selects a particular displayed
choice, the wizard can present further choices which are progressively
narrowed to focus on the user's desired goal, thus directing the user to
a suitable feature to accomplish his or her goal and providing
just-in-time conceptual information about the feature to enable the user
to use that feature.

[0017]In one or more embodiments, the inline wizard is built into the user
interface of the application. Accordingly, in these embodiments, the
wizard is not a separate window or module such as a help menu or tutorial
which, for example, would "fly in" from the side of the application's
user interface. Rather, the wizard's functionality is presented as a
unified and integral part of the application's user interface. Thus, from
a user's perspective, the wizard is a regular, integrated part of the
application.

[0018]In at least some embodiments, just-in-time conceptual information is
provided in the form of a guided help mode. Guided help, in the context
of the inline wizard, can be used to provide a brief tour of, and
information pertaining to a user interface by having a small window move
around the screen and highlight controls, explaining what they are used
for and the like. Guided help, as will become apparent below, can also be
used to execute a series of tasks by actually perform manipulations via
the user interface while illustrating to the user how a particular
operation can be performed.

[0019]In the discussion that follows, a section entitled "Example System"
is provided and describes one system in which one or more embodiments can
be employed. Following this, a section entitled "Example Inline Wizard
User Interface" is provided and describes various characteristics of an
example inline wizard in accordance with one or more embodiments. Next, a
section entitled "Example Computing Device" is provided and describes a
computing system that can be used to implement one or more embodiments.

[0020]Example System

[0021]FIG. 1 illustrates a system in accordance with one or more
embodiments, generally at 100. System 100 includes a computing device 102
having one or more processors 104, one or more computer-readable media
106 and one or more applications 108 that reside on the computer-readable
media and which are executable by the processor(s). The computer-readable
media can include, by way of example and not limitation, all forms of
volatile and non-volatile memory and/or storage media that are typically
associated with a computing device. Such media can include ROM, RAM,
flash memory, hard disk, removable media and the like. One specific
example of a computing device is shown and described below in FIG. 9.

[0022]In one or more embodiments, individual applications 108 can include
an inline wizard 110 that provides the functionality described above and
below. In at least some embodiments, each application's inline wizard is
integrated with and comprises part of the application. So, for example,
applications such as word processing applications, spreadsheet
applications, presentation development applications, computer-aided
design applications and the like would all have individual inline wizards
that are uniquely associated with that particular program. Alternately or
additionally, the inline wizard functionality can be implemented by one
or more components that are leveraged or otherwise used by an
application. For example, inline wizard functionality can comprise part
of an operating system and can be exposed to an application via a
suitably configured application program interface (API).

[0023]By being integrated directly with and/or comprising part of an
application, the user interface employed by the inline wizard can be
logically and physically consistent with the look and feel of the user
interface that the application employs. This helps to preserve and unify
the user experience as they use the inline wizard, as will become
apparent below.

[0024]Although computing device 102 is illustrated in the form of a
desktop computer, it is to be appreciated and understood that other
computing devices can be utilized without departing from the spirit and
scope of the claimed subject matter. For example, other computing devices
can include, by way of example and not limitation, portable computers,
handheld computers such as personal digital assistants (PDAs), cell
phones and the like.

[0025]Example Inline Wizard User Interface

[0026]FIG. 2 illustrates, in accordance with one or more embodiments, an
example application user interface 200 having an inline wizard user
interface portion. The application user interface can comprise part of
any suitable type of application examples of which are provided above.

[0027]In this particular example, user interface 200 is defined within a
resizable, closeable window 201, and the inline wizard user interface
portion comprises a means for receiving user input an example of which is
illustrated at 202. There, the means for receiving user input comprises a
search text box in which a user can enter text for a particular search.
Alternately or additionally, the means for receiving user input can
comprise voice recognition instrumentalities that can be used to enable a
user to physically speak a word or phrase and then have the inline wizard
conduct a search based on that word or phrase. In one or more
embodiments, the means for receiving user input supports natural language
such that a user can simply enter, in a natural language, a search term
in which they are interested.

[0028]In addition to the illustrated search text box, the inline wizard
user interface portion includes a results area 204 in which individual
results from a search can be displayed for the user. In this area,
multiple results can be displayed for the user. Hence, in this example,
the results area is divided up into individual portions that represent an
area in which an individual result can be displayed. In addition, a
navigation instrumentality 206 is provided and enables the user to
navigate through the various results (e.g. "previous" and "next") that
are displayed in the results area 204. For example, if the number of
search results exceeds the space allocated in the results area 204, then
the user can utilize the navigation instrumentality 206 to access and
view the additional results.

[0029]Notice here that the inline wizard user interface portion is
presented in the context of the application with which the user is
working. That is, the inline wizard is integrated with the application's
overall user interface so that there is a visual, logical and physical
continuity between the inline wizard interface portion and the remainder
of the application's user interface. The remainder of the application
user interface can include those features that typically make up such an
interface. For example, a bar just above the search text box and results
area presents selections that enable a user to view drop down menus
associated with various functionality provided by the application.
Additionally, a work area just beneath the search text box and the
results area provides an area in which a user can accomplish work tasks
using the application.

[0030]Notice also that, in this example, at least a portion of the inline
wizard interface portion is contained within the resizable, closeable
window 201 of user interface 200. In one or more embodiments, the inline
wizard interface portion is contained entirely within window 201 and is
presented within the ribbon of the application's user interface. The
ribbon comprises a strip across the top of a window that exposes an
application's functionality.

[0031]In the discussion that follows, the inline wizard is described in
the context of a presentation development application, such as
Microsoft's PowerPoint application. It is to be appreciated and
understood that other types of applications can be utilized without
departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0032]FIG. 3 illustrates, in accordance with one or more embodiments, an
example presentation development application user interface 300 having an
inline wizard user interface portion having a search text box 302, a
results area 304 and navigation instrumentalities 306.

[0033]In this example, assume that the user is working with the
presentation development application and wishes to change the background
on all slides that are going to be used in the presentation. In this
case, using the search text box 302, the user can simply enter a word or
phrase that describes, in some way, their goal. In this particular
example, the user has entered the word "background" because they wish to
change the background on all of the presentation's slides. In one or more
embodiments, as the user begins to enter individual letters of the term
that they are entering in the search text box 302, individual results
appears in the results area 304. In practice, as the user enters their
search term, the inline wizard can calculate likely words that complete
the letter string that the user is entering. As the likely words are
calculated, the inline wizard searches for and displays search results
that appear to be consistent with the user's entered text string. Any
suitable method of performing such a search can be conducted. For
example, the search can be performed using a trained search engine that
is trained with prior probabilities associated with entered terms and
search results.

[0034]Thus, responsive to receiving the user's articulated goal, the
inline wizard conducts a search to identify what it believes to be
relevant choices associated with the goal. In one or more embodiments, at
least some of the choices that are displayed by the inline wizard are
expressed in terms of goals that are consistent with the term entered by
the user. Doing so obscures more complex choices and concepts that a user
may not yet understand. For example, results area 304 includes a number
of different choices that are displayed for the user. The choices include
"Change Background", "Format Background", "Show Slide Master", "View All
Themes" and the like.

[0035]Some of the choices that are displayed may not necessarily be
familiar to the user. For example, the choices "Show Slide Master" and
"View All Themes" may require additional knowledge that the user simply
does not have at this point. In this case, the user can hover their
cursor over the choices to receive additional information about them. One
example of this is provided below.

[0036]In addition, in at least some embodiments, choices that are
presented to the user can be ranked in terms of their likely relevance to
the term that was provided by the user. Any suitable method or technique
can be used to rank the choices. For example, scores can be computed
based on the history of returned results relative to an entered term. In
the illustrated and described embodiment, the rankings can be visually
presented to the user via, for example, numerals that appear in the
individual search results area. Alternately or additionally, the rankings
can be manifest in the order in which the individual results are
displayed. In addition, it at least some embodiments, shortcut key
functionality can be provided to enable a user to access their search
results. For example, if the search results are ranked numerically, then
the user can access a particular search result by simply entering its
number in the search text box or some other area.

[0037]Continuing, assume in this example that the user clicks the "Change
Background" choice in FIG. 3, as illustrated by the cursor overlying the
"Change Background" choice. In this case, the user is presented with a
user interface as shown in FIG. 4 generally at 400. In this example,
results area 404 includes one or more choices that are relevant to the
user's selection. Specifically, in this instance, two different choices
are presented--"Background of All Slides" and "Background of This Slide".
Notice also that the choices are still expressed in terms of goals that
are consistent with the term previously entered by the user, i.e.
"background". In one or more embodiments, search results can be worded in
the results area using the user's own words for ease of recognition. For
example, if the user searched for the term "Terminal Server", instead of
presenting a search result that read "Remote Desktop", the term "Terminal
Server" can be displayed instead. Further relevant material or
information can be accessed, with respect to this search result, by using
the techniques described above and below.

[0038]In addition to displaying various choices in the results area 404,
an information area 402 is provided and includes additional information
that pertains to the choices that are displayed for the user. In this
particular example, information area 402 indicates that there are
different ways to control the background of a presentation. Accordingly,
the information area 402 provides additional context that is relevant to
choices that are displayed for the user and helps the user understand
aspects associated with the displayed choices.

[0039]In this example, assume that the user clicks on or otherwise selects
the "Background of All Slides" choice as illustrated by the cursor
overlying this choice. In this case, the user might be presented with a
user interface such as the one shown in FIG. 5 generally at 500. Here,
results area 504 includes the next layer of choices for the user, and
information area 502 includes information that is relevant to the choices
that are displayed for the user. Here, the results area lists choices
that include "Change Layout using a Master", "Change Colors using a
Theme", "Add a logo or watermark" and "Create presentation using a
template". These choices introduce new concepts, but entirely in the
context of the goal of changing the background for all of the slides. The
information area informs the user that if they hover their mouse over a
particular choice, additional information will be displayed to enable the
user to make a more informed decision. This additional information can be
displayed in the form of a so called tool tip.

[0040]As an example, consider FIG. 6 which shows the FIG. 5 user interface
500. Here, the user has hovered their mouse over the "Change Layout using
a Master" choice and, responsively, a tool tip 600 is displayed that
includes additional information about changing a layout using a master.

[0041]At this point, when the user clicks or otherwise selects "Change
layout using a Master", the application program switches to a Master view
that enables the user to accomplish their goal of changing the background
of all of their presentation's slides. Alternately or additionally, in at
least some embodiments, the user interface can include guided help
instructions that give some basic information about the concept of a
Master view. As an example, consider FIG. 7. There, a user interface 700
is presented and includes the Master view. Notice also that guided help
in the form of a floating window 702 is provided. The guided help window
702 provides information that pertains to the choice that the user has
made.

[0042]In at least some embodiments, the guided help functionality can be
implemented in a couple of different ways. First, once a user has
selected an appropriate choice where the guided help is exposed to them,
the guided help can essentially guide them through the steps that they
need to accomplish in order to take a particular action. It can do this
by moving window 702 around the user interface and displaying, within the
window, the various user interface elements, along with various
highlighting, to identify to the user the particular user interface
elements that the user should select to accomplish the desired task.
Alternately or additionally, the guided help functionality can
essentially automatically accomplish one or more tasks that are relevant
to the choice that the user has made. In at least some embodiments, as
these tasks are accomplished, user interface elements are displayed and
automatically engaged to illustrate to the user the steps that are used
to accomplish the tasks associated with the user's choice. The "next"
button allows the user to advance to the next window to walk through
and/or execute the steps to accomplish their choice.

[0043]It is to be appreciated and understood that while the application
wizard has been described as comprising part of the application with
which it is associated and, therefore, residing on the same computing
device as the application, such need not be the case. For example, it is
possible for the inline wizard to have components that are remote from
the computing device on which its associated application resides. In this
case, the application and the inline wizard would communicate using a
suitable protocol to articulate the user's choices to the wizard and,
responsively, to receive back content that is to be rendered for the user
as part of the wizard's functionality. This might be the case, for
example, if the application's computing device was a so-called "thin
client".

[0044]FIG. 8 is a flow diagram that describes steps in a method in
accordance with one or more embodiments. The method can be performed in
connection with any suitable hardware, software, firmware or combination
thereof. In one or more embodiments, the method can be performed by a
suitably configured inline wizard such as those described above.

[0045]Step 800 displays an application user interface. Any suitable type
of application and any suitable type of user interface can be displayed.
Step 802 receives user input pertaining to a goal the user wishes to
accomplish using the application. Examples of how this can be done are
given above. Step 804 displays, using the application's user interface,
multiple choices (or one or more choices) that pertain to the user's
goal. Examples of how this can be done are provided above. Step 806
displays text that pertains to the choice(s). Examples of how this can be
done are given above.

[0046]In one or more embodiments, one of three different paths can be
followed at this point. In connection with a first path, step 808
receives user input regarding a displayed choice. In the illustrated and
described embodiment, this input can comprise the user selecting the
particular choice. Responsive to the user's selection, the method loops
back to step 804 to display multiple (or one or more) choices associated
with the user's choice and continues with step 806. This branch of the
process is similar to processing that was described above in connection
with the example.

[0047]Alternately or additionally and in conjunction with a second path,
step 810 receives user input regarding a displayed choice and step 812
accomplishes a choice-related task. For example, if a user selects a
particular choice, they may be at a place in the process where they can
now actually begin to accomplish tasks associated with their choice. At
this point, appropriate user interface elements can be displayed to
enable the user to accomplish tasks to complete their goal. In this
example above, this branch is illustrated best by the processing that
takes place in connection with FIG. 7. In this case, window 702 may or
may not be displayed for the user.

[0048]Alternately or additionally, step 814 receives user input regarding
a displayed choice and step 816 launches guided help functionality.
Examples of how this can be done are given above. In the specific example
provided above, this branch is illustrated by the processing that takes
place in connection with FIG. 7 in which window 702 is displayed for the
user.

[0049]Having discussed various embodiments, consider now an example
computing device that can be utilized to implement the embodiments
described above.

[0050]Example Computing Device

[0051]FIG. 9 illustrates an example computing device 900 that can
implement the various embodiments described above. Computing device 900
can be, for example, any suitable computing device such as a client
device and/or server device.

[0052]Computing device 900 includes one or more processors or processing
units 902, one or more memory and/or storage components 904, one or more
input/output (I/O) devices 906, and a bus 908 that allows the various
components and devices to communicate with one another. Bus 908
represents one or more of any of several types of bus structures,
including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, an
accelerated graphics port, and a processor or local bus using any of a
variety of bus architectures. Bus 908 can include wired and/or wireless
buses.

[0054]One or more input/output devices 906 allow a user to enter commands
and information to computing device 900, and also allow information to be
presented to the user and/or other components or devices. Examples of
input devices include a keyboard, a cursor control device (e.g., a
mouse), a microphone, a scanner, and so forth. Examples of output devices
include a display device (e.g., a monitor or projector), speakers, a
printer, a network card, and so forth.

[0055]Various techniques may be described herein in the general context of
software or program modules. Generally, software includes routines,
programs, objects, components, data structures, and so forth that perform
particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. An
implementation of these modules and techniques may be stored on or
transmitted across some form of computer readable media. Computer
readable media can be any available medium or media that can be accessed
by a computing device. By way of example, and not limitation, computer
readable media may comprise "computer storage media" and "communications
media."

[0056]Computer storage media" include volatile and non-volatile, removable
and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for
storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data
structures, program modules, or other data. Computer storage media
include, but are not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other
memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical
storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or
other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to
store the desired information and which can be accessed by a computer.

[0057]Communication media" typically embody computer readable
instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a
modulated data signal, such as carrier wave or other transport mechanism.
Communication media also include any information delivery media. The term
"modulated data signal" means a signal that has one or more of its
characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information
in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media
include wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection,
and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared, and other wireless
media. Combinations of any of the above are also included within the
scope of computer readable media.

CONCLUSION

[0058]Various embodiments provide a wizard integrated as part of an
application to assist the user in operating within the application. In
one or more embodiments, the wizard comprises an inline portion of the
application's user interface and is designed to enable a user to express
a desired goal and then present one or more choices that appear to
satisfy the user's desired goal. The choices are titled in a manner that
obscures or abstracts away more complex choices and concepts with which a
user may not be familiar. When the user selects a particular displayed
choice, the wizard can present further choices which are progressively
narrowed to focus on the user's desired goal, thus directing the user to
a suitable feature to accomplish his or her goal and providing
just-in-time conceptual information about the feature to enable the user
to use that feature.

[0059]Although the subject matter has been described in language specific
to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood
that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily
limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the
specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms
of implementing the claims.